Government wants to weigh all new mums
NEW mothers should be weighed within six weeks of giving birth, says a Government health body.
Identifying those who are overweight or obese after childbirth will reduce chances of weight problems in the future, according to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence.
Draft guidelines published yesterday call for GPs and nurses to measure the weight and height of all mothers during a routine postnatal appointment, usually six to eight weeks after giving birth. But the news is unlikely to go down well with new mums who lack body confidence.
Many take weeks or months to return to their pre-pregnancy weight.
The recommendations, which will not be fully approved until July, say: “The weighing process should be sensitive to any concerns women may have about their weight or body size.” They state that women who are overweight or obese should be asked if they would like to be weighed again after six months.
But Tam Fry, from the National Obesity Forum, said it was ridiculous to weigh women after birth but not during pregnancy when piling on the pounds “can be damaging”.
About half of women of childbearing age are overweight or obese, according to figures. Almost a fifth are obese at the start of a pregnancy, increasing health risks to both mother and child.
NICE also wants NHS staff to dispel popular myths such as pregnant women needing to eat for two or that they should drink full-fat milk.
The Public Health Interventions Advisory Committee came up with the guidelines. It said breastfeeding mothers wishing to slim should stick to their usual diet and take exercise. But it has yet to recommend whether women should adopt this advice.
